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(11) | EP 0 712 367 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
ARTICLE CARRIER WITH ROUNDED CORNERS AND CORRESPONDING BLANK TRAGBEHÄLTER MIT ABGERUNDETEN ECKEN UND ENTSPRECHENDER ZUSCHNITT CARTON DE TRANSPORT A COINS ARRONDIS ET FLAN CORRESPONDANT |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a carrier according to the preamble of claim 1 and a blank for forming same as laid down in the preamble of claim 6, respectively. It thus deals with carriers of the type that support articles from the underside of flanges or other lateral projections on the articles. More particularly, it relates to carriers of this type which have integral side and end panels.
Background of the Invention
[0002] There are many different types of carriers for packaging flanged articles, such as beverage cans. Sleeve-type carriers completely enclose cans and so have little problem with cans escaping from the package. The amount of stock required to form sleeve-type carrier blanks, however, makes the carriers relatively expensive.
[0003] Wrap-around carriers with open ends use less stock, but due to their open ends they can present a problem in keeping the cans from escaping from the package. Partial end panels have been added to assist in preventing outward movement of the cans, but this adds to the cost of the package and is not economically desirable. This applies even more to wrap-around carriers as disclosed in US-A-4925019, the ends of which are fully covered by end panels each of which is comprised of two end panel flaps connected by means of a plurality of fold lines to the side panel flaps, support panels provided between the top panel and each side panel flap and to panel flap extensions folded under the top panel.
[0004] Another type of can carrier is the clip-type which supports the cans from the underside of the can chimes or flanges. One design of a clip-type carrier is comprised of a panel containing apertures corresponding to the tops of the cans, with foldably connected tabs surrounding the apertures. The top portions of the cans extend through the apertures and the edges of the tabs engage the underside of the can chimes to support the cans. This produces an inherently weak carrier due to the fact that much of the panel is removed in forming the apertures. In addition, there is very little surface area capable of receiving printing or other graphics, and the provision of a handle for lifting the carrier further complicates the design and makes the carrier more expensive.
[0005] For packaging bottles a similar carrier design is known from EP 0454450 A1, which document represents the closest prior art disclosing a carrier of the generic type. In this carrier the fold lines connecting the webs to the associated side panel flap extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the fold line connecting the respective side panel flap to the top panel. In addition to the shortcomings set forth above in connection with clip-type can carriers, this carrier suffers from the drawback of a somewhat complicated packaging procedure.
[0006] Another clip-type design makes use of slots in a panel for receiving opposite portions of the can chimes, with adjacent panel edges resulting from the slot formation engaging the underside of the can chime portions. This is typically employed in packages comprised of two adjacent rows of cans, so that the elongated area of the panel between the interior slots folds into a wedge-shaped reinforcing rib extending between the sloped upper portions of the cans. Such carriers provide substantially unbroken areas in the top panel for receiving printed indicia, but fall short of providing the desired level of strength and is relatively expensive to produce. Although clip-type carriers use less stock and so are more economical, neither design incorporates end panels, which makes the carriers potentially susceptible to outward movement of the end cans and which in any event permits some degree of movement or swinging motion of the cans when a person holding the carrier is walking. Although such movement may not result in the loss of any cans from the carrier, it produces an undesirable perception to the user that the cans are not tightly packaged.
[0007] It would be desirable to provide a carrier which retains the benefits of certain features of clip-type carriers, and in addition provides increased strength and economy of manufacture. Ideally, the carrier should include means to hold the cans in place separate from and supplementary to any can chime locking slot, and should be of a design which can be readily formed by a packaging machine.
Brief Summary of the Invention
[0008] For a carrier of the generic type these objects are achieved by the features as laid down in the characterizing portion of claim 1. A corresponding blank includes the features of the characterizing portion of claim 6. Accordingly, the carrier of the invention includes a downwardly extending support panel connected to each side edge of a top panel along a fold line, and each support panel contains slots through which at least portions of the projecting lips of the packaged articles protrude. End panel flaps connected to the opposite end edges of the top panel have extensions which extend around outer portions of adjacent articles, and side panel flaps connected to each support panel overlie end portions of the end panel flap extensions. A web further foldably connects each side panel flap to an associated end panel flap extension so as to be in face-to-face relationship with the interior face of the side panel flap and with the exterior face of the associated end panel flap extension. The fold line connecting each web to the associated end panel flap extension extends substantially horizontally and is substantially aligned with the fold line connecting the associated side panel flap to the associated support panel. And the fold lines connecting each web to the associated side panel flap form an acute angle with the fold line connecting the respective side panel flap to the associated support panel.
This arrangement causes the end panel flaps to be automatically drawn into place upon pivotal movement of the side panel flaps of a carrier blank being formed into a carrier. Where the articles in the carrier are cans or otherwise include cylindrical portions extending at right angles to the top panel, the end panel flap extensions are able to conform to the rounded exterior of the corner articles in the carrier to snugly fit around the entire periphery of the package. The articles are thereby tightly held in place without danger of moving.
[0009] The features of the invention which enable it to provide the desired results are brought out in more detail in the description of the preferred embodiment, wherein the above and other aspects of the invention, as well as other benefits, will readily become apparent.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0010]
Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of a package of beverage cans formed by the carrier of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial end view of the carrier of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carrier of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of the blank and cans to be packaged as they appear after the blank has been placed on the cans and initially folded; and
Fig. 5 is a pictorial view of the blank and cans at an intermediate stage of forming a carrier.
Detailed description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0011] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a package 10 is illustrated which is comprised of the carrier 12 of the invention and two rows of cans C. The carrier includes a top panel 14 connected to sloped support sections 16 by fold lines 18. The central portion of the panel 14 includes finger holes 20 located above the spaces between cans. Slots 22 in support panels 16 receive the chimes or flanges F of the cans C, supporting the cans by the lower surface of the flanges.
[0012] The carrier also includes short side panels 24, connected to the sloped support panels 16 by fold lines 26, and short end panels 28, connected to the end edges of the top panel by fold lines 30. The cans are thus not only supported by their chimes, but are securely bound together about the entire periphery of the package by the combined side and end panels.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 3, wherein like reference numerals to those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 denote like elements, a generally rectangular blank from which the carrier 12 is formed is indicated at 32. The material of the blank should possess sufficient strength and flexibility to allow it to be folded into carrier form and to withstand the loading caused by lifting and carrying the cans or other articles. Paperboard of the type and caliper conventionally employed in the carrier industry is preferred. The central portion of the blank is comprised of the top panel section 14, the fold lines 18 of which are interrupted by three curved, C-shaped slits 22 which form the slots of the carrier. The convex sides of the slits face toward the fold lines 26. The C-shaped slits may be made to terminate in arcuate ends slightly inwardly of their associated fold lines 18, if desired, to resist the tendency to tear at this stress point.
[0014] The blank includes a web or gusset panel 34 at each corner area of the blank. Each web is connected at one end to the end edge of an associated side panel flap 24 along fold line 36 and at the other end to an associated end panel flap 28 along fold line 38. The portion of each end panel flap to which the webs 34 are connected may be considered to be an extension or corner strap portion of the end panel flap which extends out beyond the side edges of the top panel section 14. Interior edges of the webs 34 and the end panel flaps 28 and an exterior edge portion of the top panel section 14 define cutouts 40 at each corner area of the blank. The fold lines 36 preferably form an acute angle with the associated fold line 26, while the angle between the fold lines 38 and the nearest fold line 26 is selected so as to be aligned with the fold line 26 in a carrier formed from the blank, as described in more detail below.
[0015] To form a package containing beverage cans, the carrier blank is positioned on top of two rows of adjacent cans so that the C-shaped slits in the blank are substantially aligned with the outer portions of the rims or chimes of the cans. The end panel flaps 28 are then folded down about the fold lines 30, causing the webs 34 to move with the end panel flaps and pivot about the fold lines 36. The blank at this stage of carrier fabrication is illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0016] The support panel sections 16 and connected side panel flaps 24 are then pivoted up about the interrupted fold lines 18, as illustrated in FIG. 5. As the side panel flaps move up, the fold lines 36 and connected webs 34 move with them. This causes the webs 34 to fold down about the fold lines 36, drawing the ends of opposite end panel flaps 28 toward each other and pulling the end portions of the end panel flaps around the peripheries of the corner cans C to the position shown in FIG. 5. Movement of the end panel flaps in this manner moves the fold lines 38 into substantially horizontal position, aligned with and adjacent to the fold lines 26. This allows both the webs 34 and the side panel flaps 24 to fold down about their fold lines without interfering or conflicting with each other into the final position of the carrier shown in FIG. 1. As this takes place the edges of the slots in the support panels formed by the slits 22 snap into place beneath the can chimes to securely support the cans from the chimes. Prior to the folding of the side panel flaps the stippled surfaces of FIG. 5 on the side panel flaps 24, the gusset panel webs 34 and the end portions of the end panel flaps 28 will have been coated with glue to hold the side and end panels in place.
[0017] As a result of the upward pivoting movement of the side panel flaps during formation of the carrier, the corner strap extensions of the end panels are automatically drawn around the cans at the corners of the package, bringing them into position to be engaged by the underside of the side panel flaps 24. The cutouts 40 enable the folding action to take place by eliminating material which would otherwise bunch together and prevent a smooth continuation of the end panels around the corner cans. Adherence of the end panel flaps to the side panel flaps holds the carrier in locked condition so that the outer portions of the can chimes continue to be supported by the lower edge of the slots 22. The carrier thus combines the supporting features of a clip-type carrier with the holding power of side and end panels to provide an economical carrier capable of supporting and tightly holding cans or other flanged articles in place.
[0018] By making the angle between the web fold lines 36 and the fold line 26 an acute angle the upward pivoting movement of the side panel flaps that occurs during formation of a carrier causes the resulting folding action of the webs 34 at each end of a side panel flap to have a component of movement toward each other, thereby pulling the end panel flap extensions into place.
[0019] It will now be clear that the invention improves the strength of clip-type paperboard carriers without increasing their cost. Obviously, although the invention has been described in connection with a carrier designed to hold six beverage cans, the principles of the invention may be incorporated in carriers designed to hold fewer or more cans. Moreover, the invention is not limited to use with cans, but may be extended to other types of articles having a rim or other projection capable of being gripped by locking or supporting edges of the carrier.
[0020] Because the invention is not necessarily limited to all the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiment, except as they may be within the scope of the appended claims, changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment which do not alter the overall basic function and concept of the invention are contemplated.
a top panel (14) having opposite side edges and opposite end edges;
end panel flaps (28) connected to the opposite end edges of the top panel (14), the end panel flaps having extensions which extend around outer portions of adjacent articles;
side panel flaps (24) overlying end portions of the end panel flap extensions;
each side panel flap (24) being connected to an associated end panel flap extension by a web (34), the web (34) being connected to the end panel flap (28) extension by a first web fold line (38) and to the side panel flap (24) by a second web fold line (36), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT:
each side panel flap (24) is connected to a downwardly extending support panel (16) connected to a side edge of the top panel along a fold line (18), the support panels containing slots (22) through which at least portions of the projecting lips of the articles protrude;
the first fold line (38) of each web (34) extends substantially horizontally and is substantially aligned with a fold line (26) connecting the associated side panel flap (24) to an associated support panel (16) and;
the second fold lines (36) form an acute angle with the fold line (26) connecting an associated side panel flap (24) to an associated support panel (16).
a substantially rectangular blank (32);
a central top panel section (14) having opposite side edges and opposite end edges;
end panel flaps (28) connected to the opposite end edges of the top panel section (14), the end panel flaps (28) having extensions for extending around outer portions of adjacent articles in a carrier formed from the blank;
side panel flaps (24);
each side panel flap (24) being connected to an associated end panel flap (28) extension by a web (34), the web (34) being connected to the end panel flap extension by a first web fold line (38) and to the side panel flap (24) by a second web fold line (36), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT:
each side panel flap (24) is connected to a support panel section (16) connected to a side edge of the top panel section (14) along a fold line (18), the fold line (18) being interrupted by slits (22) which form slots in a carrier formed from the blank, such slots receiving portions of the outwardly projecting lip of an adjacent article in the carrier;
each side panel flap (24) is connected to an associated support panel section (16) by a fold line (26), the first fold line (38) of each web (34) extending at an angle to said side panel flap fold line (26) such that said first fold line (38) is substantially aligned with an associated side panel flap fold line (26) in a carrier formed from the blank; and
the second fold line (36) of each web (34) forms an acute angle with the fold line (26) connecting an associated side panel flap (24) to an associated support panel section (16).
eine Deckelwand (14) mit einander gegenüberliegenden Seitenkanten und Endkanten;
Endwandklappen (28), die mit den einander gegenüberliegenden Endkanten der Deckelwand (14) verbunden sind, wobei die Endwandklappen Verlängerungen aufweisen, die sich um äußere Abschnitte von angrenzenden Artikeln erstrecken;
Seitenwandklappen (24), die über Endbereichen der Endwandklappenverlängerungen liegen;
wobei jede Seitenwandklappe (24) durch einen Streifen (34) mit einer zugehörigen Endwandklappenverlängerung
verbunden ist, wobei der Streifen (34) durch eine erste Streifenfaltlinie (38) mit
der Endwandklappe (28) und durch eine zweite Streifenfaltlinie (36) mit der Seitenwandklappe
(24) verbunden ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß jede Seitenwandklappe (24) mit einer sich nach unten erstreckenden Stützwand (16) verbunden ist, die wiederum mit einer Seitenkante der Deckelwand entlang einer Faltlinie (18) verbunden ist, wobei die Stützwände Schlitze (22) enthalten, durch welche wenigstens Abschnitte der vorstehenden Nasen der Artikel hervorragen;
daß die erste Faltlinie (38) jedes Streifens (34) sich im wesentlichen horizontal erstreckt und im wesentlichen mit einer die zugehörige Seitenwandklappe (24) mit einer zugehörigen Stützwand (16) verbindenden Faltlinie (26) ausgerichtet ist; und
daß die zweiten Faltlinien (36) einen spitzen Winkel mit der Faltlinie (26) bilden, die eine zugehörige Seitenwandklappe (24) mit einer zugehörigen Stützwand (16) verbindet.
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die zweite Faltlinie (36) jedes Streifens (34) entlang eines äußeren Endabschnitts der zugehörigen Seitenwandklappe (24) mit dieser verbunden ist.
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Streifen (34) zwischen den Seitenwandklappen (24) und den angrenzenden Endwandklappenverlängerungen angeordnet sind, wobei jeder Streifen (34) um seine zweite Faltlinie (36) gefaltet wird, um der Innenseite der Seitenwandklappe direkt gegenüber zu stehen, und um seine erste Faltlinie (38), um der Außenseite der zugehörigen Endwandklappenverlängerung direkt gegenüber zu stehen.
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Artikel in dem Träger zylindrische Abschnitte umfassen, die sich im rechten Winkel zur Deckelwand erstrecken, wobei die Endwandklappenverlängerungen um die zylindrischen Abschnitte von angrenzenden Artikel gebogen sind.
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Faltlinie (18), die jede sich nach unten erstreckende Stützwand (16) mit der Deckelwand (14) verbindet, durch die Schlitze (22) in den oberen Stützwänden (16) unterbrochen ist.
einen im wesentlichen rechteckigen Zuschnitt (32);
einen zentralen Deckelwandabschnitt (14) mit einander gegenüberliegenden Seitenkanten und einander gegenüberliegenden Endkanten;
Endwandklappen (28), die mit den einander gegenüberliegenden Endkanten des Deckelwandabschnitts (14) verbunden sind, wobei die Endwandklappen (28) Verlängerungen aufweisen, die sich in einem aus dem Zuschnitt gebildeten Träger um äußere Abschnitte von angrenzenden Artikeln erstrecken;
Seitenwandklappen (24);
wobei jede Seitenwandklappe (24) durch einen Streifen (34) mit einer zugehörigen Endwandklappenverlängerung
(28) verbunden ist, wobei der Streifen (34) durch eine erste Streifenfaltlinie (38)
mit der Endwandklappenverlängerung und durch eine zweite Streifenfaltlinie (36) mit
der Seitenwandklappe (24) verbunden ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß jede Seitenwandklappe (24) mit einem Stützwandabschnitt (16) verbunden ist, der wiederum mit einer Seitenkante des Deckelwandabschnitts (14) entlang einer Faltlinie (18) verbunden ist, wobei die Faltlinie (18) durch Schlitze (22) unterbrochen ist, die in einem aus dem Zuschnitt gebildeten Träger Schlitze bilden, wobei diese Schlitze Abschnitte der vorstehenden Nase eines angrenzenden Artikels in dem Träger aufnehmen;
daß jede Seitenwandklappe (24) durch eine Faltlinie (26) mit einem zugehörigen Stützwandabschnitt (16) verbunden ist, wobei sich die erste Faltlinie (38) jedes Streifens (34) in einem solchen Winkel zur Seitenwandklappenfaltlinie (26) erstreckt, daß die erste Faltlinie (38) in einem aus dem Zuschnitt gebildeten Träger im wesentlichen mit einer zugehörigen Seitenwandklappenfaltlinie (26) ausgerichtet ist; und
daß die Zweite Faltlinie (36) jedes Streifens (34) einen spitzen Winkel mit der Faltlinie (26) bildet, die eine zugehörige Seitenwandklappe (24) mit einem zugehörigen Stützwandabschnitt (16) verbindet.
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die zweite Faltlinie (36) jedes Streifens (34) die zugehörige Seitenwandklappe (24) entlang eines äußeren Endabschnitts verbindet.
un panneau supérieur (14) ayant des bords latéraux opposés et des bords d'extrémité opposés ;
des rabats (28) de panneau d'extrémité reliés aux bords opposés d'extrémité du panneau supérieur (14), les rabats de panneau d'extrémité comportant des prolongements qui sont disposés autour de parties extérieures d'objets voisins ;
des rabats (24) de panneau latéral qui sont superposés aux parties d'extrémité des prolongements des rabats de panneau d'extrémité ;
chaque rabat (24) de panneau latéral étant relié à un prolongement associé de rabat de panneau d'extrémité par une bande (34), la bande (34) étant reliée au prolongement du rabat (28) de panneau d'extrémité par une première ligne de pliage de bande (38) et au rabat (24) de panneau latéral par une deuxième ligne de pliage de bande (36), caractérisé en ce que :
chaque rabat (24) de panneau latéral est relié à un panneau de support (16) orienté vers le bas et relié à un bord latéral du panneau supérieur le long d'une ligne de pliage (18), les panneaux de support comportant des fentes (22) par lesquelles au moins des parties des lèvres en saillie des objets sont saillantes ;
la première ligne de pliage (38) de chaque bande (34) est orientée sensiblement horizontalement et elle est sensiblement alignée sur une ligne de pliage (26) reliant le rabat associé (24) de panneau latéral à un panneau associé de support (16) et ;
la deuxième ligne de pliage (36) forme un angle aigu avec la ligne de pliage (26) reliant un rabat associé (24) de panneau latéral à un panneau associé de support (16).
un flan (32) sensiblement rectangulaire ;
une section centrale de panneau supérieur (14) ayant des bords latéraux opposés et des bords opposés d'extrémité ;
des rabats (28) de panneau d'extrémité reliés aux bords opposés d'extrémité de la section (14) de panneau supérieur, les rabats (28) de panneau d'extrémité comportant des prolongements destinés à être disposés autour de parties extérieures d'objets voisins se trouvant dans un support formé du flan ;
des rabats (24) de panneau latéral ;
chaque rabat (24) de panneau latéral étant relié à un prolongement associé de rabat (28) de panneau d'extrémité par une bande (34), la bande (34) étant reliée au prolongement de rabat de panneau d'extrémité par une première ligne de pliage de bande (38) et au rabat (24) de panneau latéral par une deuxième ligne de pliage de bande (36), caractérisé en ce que :
chaque rabat (24) de panneau latéral est relié à une section (16) de panneau de support reliée à un bord latéral de la section (14) de panneau supérieur le long d'une ligne de pliage (18), la ligne de pliage (18) étant interrompue par des entailles (22) qui forment des fentes dans un support formé du flan, ces fentes recevant des parties de la lèvre saillante vers l'extérieur d'un objet voisin situé dans le support ;
chaque rabat (24) de panneau latéral est relié à une section associée (16) de panneau de support par une ligne de pliage (26), la première ligne de pliage (38) de chaque bande (34) inscrivant un angle avec ladite ligne de pliage (26) de rabat de panneau latéral de façon que ladite première ligne de pliage (38) soit sensiblement alignée sur une ligne de pliage (26) de rabat associé de panneau latéral dans un support formé du flan ; et
la deuxième ligne de pliage (36) de chaque bande (34) inscrit un angle aigu avec la ligne de pliage (26) reliant un rabat associé (24) de panneau latéral à une section associée (16) de panneau de support.